Influence of age on profile of serum proteins in the calf

The authors studied the course of serum proteins during the first
week and the first month of life in the calf in order to obtain useful
information for neonatal care. Eight Limousine calves, four males and
four females, clinically healthy, were used. From all animals blood
samples were collected from the external jugular vein from the day after
the birth every day for one week and every five days for thirty days.
Blood samples were taken at the same hour (09:00), and the serum
concentrations of albumin, globulins (1-globulins, 2-globulins, -
globulins, -globulins) and total proteins were determined by means of
automated multiparametric agarose gel electrophoresis system. Oneway
repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the
Bonferroni's test, was used to determine significant differences. Data
analysis of variance showed a significant effect of days of life, with p <
0.05, only on albumin, 1-globulins and 2-globulins during the first
month of life. These results confirm that despite the fact that newborns
must adapt to various environmental factors after birth, including
nutrition that can influence the serum protein profile during neonatal
period, the evaluation of electrophoretic's parameters during the first
months of life results useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal
diseases.